Cluster-socket.



D HOLDEN. CLUSTER SOCKET. Arl moA-nox map n. 16. mos.

973,199. Patentd ecu-1s, 1910.

3] vwe when UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

DELOS HOLDEN, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. DALEOF NEW YORK, N. Y.

I CLUSTER-SOCKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Danos flowers, a citizen of the United States,residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of NewJe1;sey,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCluster-Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to electric light fix-,

I known as wireless clusters or cluster sockshowin 1't0 whic aresecured; Fig. 4 is a detail view of one form of threaded s ets, asdistinguished from wired fixtures or clusters. In prior clusters it hasbeen common to mount the threaded shells of the lamp sockets upon aconducting plate, said late servingto rigidly secure the said she] sto.- gether and to supply current thereto.

Myinvention has for its object the elimination of a plate. of thischaracter, the threaded shells being secured directly to one or moreinsulators which are in turn secured to a rigid central conducting basewhich is electrically connected to the center contacts of the lampsockets.

I The threaded shells being thus mechanically united, current may be suplied thereto by fiexible .conductors brouglit to a common point towhichthe'line wire may be connected. The insulation in.

this structure is preferably although not necessarily reduced to smallseparate elements interposed between the shells and central conductor.

' In order, that the invention may be more fully un'derstood,'referenceis made to the accompanying drawing, of which Figure 1 is a plan view ofa cluster constructed in accordance with my invention,

the top plate being removed to expose the interior of the cluster; Fi 2is a section on line 9r 2 of Fig. 1 showing the top plate in. position;Fig. 3 'is a perspective View the rigid central conducting basethe'insulators and threaded shells 'erspective ell which Specificationof Letters Patent. Iiatented Oct, 18 1910, Application filed March 16,1908. Serial No. 421,568. I

may be used; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the disks or buttonsfor insulatihg the threaded shell from the central base.

In the cluster shown, the'central conducting base is in the form of arigid ring 1 of circular cross-section, said ring eing preferably ofbrass or other metal. This ring is drilled and tap ed as shown at 2 toreceive the screws 3, 0 which there is one for each lamp socket, andwhich are of metal, and act as the center contacts for the lamp sockets,and also as means for securing the threaded shells in position. Uponeach of the screws 3, and 'secured by the head thereof, is a washer 7preferably of brass, a disk 6 of mica or other insulating'materiahan in-'sulating disk or button 4, which may be of porcelain or other suitablematerial, and aand 4, and the washer 7 is of greater diameter than thespace between the said flanges.

' The parts being thus. assembled upon the screw 3, the latter isinserted within the bore 2 and screwed firmly into position,

thereby rigidly fastening together the various parts which have beendescribed and forming the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Any suitable means may be rovided for electrically connectin the clustershown, t e flexible tongues 8 are brought together at a central pointand united by a metallic bushing 10., the ends of which are upset so asto bind the tongues tightly together, and the bore of the'bushmg istapped to receive a-binding screw.11,

for securing one of the line wlres which enters the cluster through theconduit-or pipe 12. A binding screw 13 is threaded in the ring 1 forreceiving the other line wire for supplying current to the centercontacts of thesookets. 1

Any desired means-may be employed for the she ls 5, but ,in'

supporting the unitary structure shown in Fig. 3, but I prefer tosupport the same by means of a cover removably applied to the top plate17 said cover being shown as a hemisphericalshell 14, preferabl ofbrass, and

provided with-a pluralityo pins 15, which 1 engage slots 16, formed inthe depending flange of the top plate 17, and form ayonet I joints whichpermit the ready removal of the cover mm the to plate. Insulatingbushings 18 of porcelain or other sultable material are threaded uponthe, exterior of the shells 5, and theffianges formed on said bushingsbear against the edges of the openings in the cover 14 and draw thecover andthreaded shells into a rigid structure.

In carr'yingout my invention it is not necessary that the'threadedshells be united to the mug 1 by engagement of a washer 7 with flanges9, since the shell may be secured to the insulating disk i by any othermeans,'

as, for instance by screws or bolts passing through the flanges 9 andthe disks 4.

Having now described my invention, what;

V I claim, 1s:

1. In a cluster socket, the combination of a rigid metallic base, and aplurality of insulating blocks, threaded shells and center,

contacts carried thereby, the center contact for each shell being in'electrical connection with saidbaser Y 2.111 a cluster socket, thecombination witli-a-horizontal, rigid, metallicbase, of a plurality. of.insulating blocks having, inclinedouter-faces, threaded shells uponsaid.

inclined surfaces, and center contacts, all carried bvsaid base, thecenter contacts for with said ring.

each shell being in electrical connection with said base.

' '3.' In a cluster socket, the combination of .a rigid metallic base, a

lurality of insulating blocks and threade shells, and center bolts forclamping said members together, said bolts being electrically connectedto the base and formmg the center contacts of the lamp sockets.

t. In a cluster socket, the combination'of a rigid metallic ring, andapluralit of in-- sulating blocks, threaded shells an 40 center contactscarried thereby, the center contact for each shell being in electricalconnection 5. Inc cluster socket, the

' blocks and threaded shells, and center -bo ts for clampingsaid-members together,

'ture, in the presence said bolts being electrically connected .to thering and forming the center contacts of the lamp sockets.

4 of two' witnesses DELOS HOLDEN.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. Oman,

combination of a-rlgld metallic mg, a plurality of insulab-x In witnesswhereofi'l'subscribe'my signa-

